Prediabetes: Evaluation of b-Cell Function

- Cell function should be expressed as insulin se-cretion in relation to the prevailing and changing glucose concentration and interpreted in light of prevailing insulin resistance. Characterizing alter-ations in b-cell function in individuals with impaired fast-ing glucose (IFG) and/or impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) (collectively termed “prediabetes”) has been a hotly pur-sued topic among clinical investigators over the past sev-eral years. Because IFG and IGT are both associated with elevated risk of progression to overt type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular events (1–3), it is important to understand the specific defects in b-cell function that occur in these settings. Such knowledge could translate into targeted therapeutic interventions that could potentially delay or halt the progression of IFG/IGT to frank diabetes